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Fitzpatrick gets the call at QB for Bengals
Harvard grad says he's confident; Palmer says elbow injury will be a season-long issue.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
CINCINNATI — Instead of waiting to make a game-time decision, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis decided to pull the trigger Friday, Oct. 10.
He named backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick the starter against the New York Jets on Sunday.
Fitzpatrick replaces Carson Palmer, who has lingering soreness in an inflamed right elbow that needs more rest.
No decision was made on whether Palmer will be the No. 2 or No. 3 quarterback.
Sunday's game at the Meadowlands marks Fitzpatrick's second start in three weeks, and the Bengals' second trip to East Rutherford, N.J., in less than a month.
Fitzpatrick completed 21-of-35 passes for 156 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in the Bengals' 20-12 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 28.
Palmer had his most productive game of the season in last Sunday's 31-22 defeat at Dallas — 23-for-39 for 217 yards, two TDs and one interception — but admitted afterward he never "cut it loose" and chose not to make some throws he normally would because he didn't trust his arm strength and didn't want to risk further injury.
Palmer, who was injured on a first-quarter sack in a 26-23 overtime loss to the New York Giants on Sept. 21, said on Wednesday that his inflamed elbow will be a season-long ordeal that won't be fully resolved until the offseason because, in order to heal, the elbow demands total rest.
As for Fitzpatrick, he's expecting a solid performance because he's gotten a bulk of the repetitions in practice the past two weeks.
Fitzpatrick worked very little with starting wide receivers Chad Ocho Cinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh prior to his emergency start against the Browns. With increased practice snaps, Fitzpatrick's chemistry with the receivers has improved.
Fitzpatrick, a fourth-year veteran from Harvard, has excellent mobility. However, he said he needs to play a smarter, more efficient game and not force passes into traffic.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com
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Next game
Who: Cincinnati Bengals (0-5) at N.Y. Jets (2-2)
When: 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12
TV: WHIO (CBS Ch. 7)
Radio: WTUE-FM (104.7)
